Bedstead or table structure



Jilly 3, 1958 A. M. DAVOCK- I ,84

BEDS'TEAD 0R TABLE STRUCTURE 7 Filed March 7, 1957 IN V EN TOR. 151F250 I! Bax 00?.

United States Patent f 7 2,842,416 BEDSTEAD 0R TABLE STRUCTURE Alfred M. Davock, Birmingham, Mich.

Application March 7, 1957,- Serial No. 644,649

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-77) This invention relates generally to furniture and particularly to the construction of bedsand tables.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved piece of furniture which may be utilized either as a bed structure or table.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bed or table structure having novel structural components so arranged in cooperation that forces of gravity and stress are in balance acting to hold the components together as a unitary structure.

Specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bed or table construction in which certain of the structural components are stressed in relation to others such that all of the joints are in compression preventing the construction from coming apart at the joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bed or table structure of a character that can be readily assembled either in the factory by trained workmen or in the home by one unskilled in the manufacture and assembly of conventional furniture.

Another object is to provide an improved bed or table structure of a character such that it can be shipped disassembled in a compact package and be readily assembled at the point of use or display.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed or table structure in which novel structural members cooperate in such manner that the bed or table may be very inexpensively manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bed or table of the above mentioned character which is also folda'ble.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bed or table structure embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken along line 3--3 of Fig. l and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the structural components of the bed shown in Figs. 1 to 3 include a rectangular mattress support or flat wooden top 20, end supporting members or boards 22, and intermediate thrust and supporting members 24. With respect to the relative arrangement of the bed components, the end members 22 (which may be likened to the head and foot boards of conventional beds) extend generally upright beneath top 2% near the ends thereof, and the intermediate supporting members 24 extend between the end members 22 beneath top 20 and respectively adjacent the side edges thereof. The end members 22 extend between members 24 as seen in end elevation, and at each end of the bed, the lower ends of members 22 and 24 are connected to a common floor supported rail type foot 26.

2,842,416 Patented July 8, 1958 Where the structure is to 'be used as 'a bed, the top 20 supports a mattress 28 which may be a foam rubber mattress, or any other suitable type of mattress. Because of the simplicity of my structure and its flat top 20, it will be apparent the construction lends itself to the making of tables, as well as, beds.

The end members 22, intermediate supporting members 24 and the top 20 may be readily and economically made of plywood of standard panel stock, although other materials may be used, if desired. In the construction of these beds, I have found it very satisfactory to make the top 20 of inch sheet plywood and the supports 22 and 24 of 4 inch sheet plywood. These dimensions may be varied, as desired, depending on the size of the bed or table to be constructed.

In accordance with my invention, the intermediate supporting members 24 are stressed on assembly with the other components such that the resultant forces are in balance or equilibrium with the force or weight of top 26 and such that all of the forces are acting to hold the bed components together as a unitary structure. That is, I provide a bed structure having the intermediate supporting members 24 stressed such that the inherent forces thereof oppose separation of all of the joints, or such that all of the structural members are in compression to prevent separation at the joints thereof. To accomplish this, I arrange the end members 22 to extend downwardly and inwardly at acute angles to the top 20 of about 70 degrees. Upper margins of the end members 22 are received in deep slots 30 in cross members 32 which are secured, such as by wood screws, to the underside of top 20, near the ends thereof. Lower margins of the end members 22 are received in slots 34 provided in the feet 26 which, as shown, may be made of round stock. Radially spaced about degrees from slots 34 are other slots 36 in feet 26 outwardly of the side edges of members 22 to receive respectively the ends of the intermediate supports 24.

When'the bed components are assembled, the members 24, the true lengths of which are greater than the distance between the feet 26, are flexed or bent transversely to engage in the slots 36 in the feet and the members 24 are placed under stress taking arcuate form as seen from side elevation. This change of form to arcuate shape gives added rigidityto the members 24 or the benefit of the structural strength of arches. The top 20 seats on the crowns of the arched members 24, substantially midway between the ends of the top, where the members 24 are securely attached to the underside of the top. This may be accomplished by a wooden cross member 38 spanning the members 24 and secured to the underside of the top 20, such as by means of wood screws.

It will be seen that force of the stressed arched members 24 exert athrust upwardly against the bottom of the end members 22 and thus against the weight of the structure whereby the components of the bed are all in compression or urged together at the several joints thereof to prevent separation. It is calculated that if the joints are properly made and the slots are sufficiently deep, the thrust forces exerted by the stressed arch members 24 will be sulficient under normal use of the bed to hold the components thereof together without need of supplemental fastening means. However, the bed components may be glued together at the joints thereof, if desired, to avoid accidental separation.

The modification of Fig. 4 is similar to the previously described structure and therefor like numerals have been given to like parts to avoid unnecessary repetitious description. In the modification, the cross members 32 and therefore end supporting members 22 are hinged by suitable hinges 40 to the underside of the top 20 so that the members 22 and the arched members 24 may fold.

0, Q3 against the underside of the top 20. In the arrangement of Fig. 4, the arched .members 24 and foot 26 are glued together and the lower ends of members 22 are readily removable from the slots in the feet on folding of the structure. If desired, clips 42 maybe provided on the underside of the top 20 to hold members 22in folded positions as shown in dot and dash lines. It Will be seen that .the stressed members 24 exert an upward thrust against the members 22 which holds the structural components together and, of course, cross member 32 flat against the underside oftop 20.

From the. foregoing description, it will now be appreciated. that .I have provided an improved bed or table construction of a character such that one or more stressed components thereof act to hold all of the components together as a unitary structure. In this regard, it will be seen that the stressed arch members have the dual functions'of supporting .the top midway of its ends and of exerting thrust to hold the bed components together. Also, I have provided a bed or table structure of sturdy construction due to the stressed arch members yet one which may be economically manufactured of very thin flexible panels. Furthermore, I have provided an inexpensive bed structure which may be shipped disassembled and be readily assembled at the destination point without need of skilled furniture makers. In addition, my structure may be made so that it can be readily folded into a compact unit for easy storage or shipment.

While I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A structure comprising, a pair of spaced apart supports, a structural member supported on said supports and extending substantially horizontally therebetween, said supports converging downwardly from said structural member, means connecting the upper ends of said supports to said structural member and limiting outward movement of the lower ends of said supports, a bendable structural member, said bendable structural member and said supports mutually supporting the load of said first structural member, said bend-able structural member having a true length greater than the distance between the lower ends of said supports, means attaching opposite ends of said bendable structural member respectively to the lower ends of said supports bending the said bendable structural member in the form of an arch having its crown supporting said first structural member intermediate said supports.

2. A structure comprising, a pair of spaced apart supports, an elongated structural member supported on said supports and extending substantially horizontally therebetween, said supports converging downwardly from said structural member, spaced apart cross members secured to said structural member, a slot in each of said cross members extending longitudinally thereof and respectively receiving upper end portions of said supports to connect said supports to said structural member and also to limit outward movement ofthe lower ends of said supports, an elongated and transversely bendable structural member having a true length greater than the distance be tween the lower ends of the converging supports, and extending as an arch under stress between the lower ends of said supports having an upper crown, means securing said bendable structural member at the crown thereof to said first structural members, and means attaching opposite ends of said bendable structural member respectively to the lower ends of said supports urging said supports upwardly to hold them engaged in said slots.

3. A structure comprising, a pair of spaced apart panels, an elongated supported member supported on the upper ends of said panels and extending substantially horizontally there'between, said panels con-verging downwardly from said structural member, connecting joints between the upper ends of said panels and said supported member including transverse slots on the underside of said sup ported member respectively receiving upper end portions of said panels and limiting outward movement of the lower ends of said panels, an elongated bendable member having a true length greater than the distance between the lower ends of said panel, said bendable member bent transversely thereof in arch shape with opposite ends of the bendable member engaged respectively in slots in said panels and the crown of the arch toward said supported member holding all of the joints in compression, and means attaching said "bendable member to said supported member to support the latter midway between said panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 340,087 Bit-chard Apr. 20, 1886 2,440,859 Howe May 4, 1948 2,690,368 Troyke Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 377,619 Great Britain July 28, 1932 816,885 Austria Oct. 15, 1955 

